God?

[nc42acc]

Today my faith in a higher power has been destroyed. A friend, business partner, father of three children, husband, community leader has been diagnosed with ALS. How can the scorn of this planet be allowed to continue when a person like my friend is given three to five years to compact a lifetime with his children and wife? I hurt to the core of my soul and can only pray a miracle can restore my faith in the good of our being. Members of faith please think and pray for my friend this time of year when it should be filled with joy and happiness for most.

[Mike]

Marty - so sorry to hear. My good friend David passed away a couple of years ago from ALS. It’s an awful disease. Prayers.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Shadowfax]

My heart goes out to you. I am also facing similar sadness as we will be having a family meeting later this week to put my mother into Assisted Living and out of her independent apartment. Her memory has failed and she needs help. I will have her with me all day on Christmas and have to make it a good time and act as if everything is the same.

[the professor]

I'm so sorry. Terrible disease. Prayers for sure!!!

[Al M.]

Members of faith please think and pray for my friend this time of year when it should be filled with joy and happiness for most.

I will.

So sorry to hear about your friend.

[Audiophilehi]

Hi Marty ...my deepest sympathy. I will say a prayer for sure.

[joeinid]

Marty, Brian,

I’m so sorry to read about friend and family issues. My heart goes out to both of you and those here who are going through tough times. Life has its highs and lows but it’s terrible how badly life can get. I pray everyone can get though it.

[SCAudiophile]

Today my faith in a higher power has been destroyed. A friend, business partner, father of three children, husband, community leader has been diagnosed with ALS. How can the scorn of this planet be allowed to continue when a person like my friend is given three to five years to compact a lifetime with his children and wife? I hurt to the core of my soul and can only pray a miracle can restore my faith in the good of our being. Members of faith please think and pray for my friend this time of year when it should be filled with joy and happiness for most.

Marty,

Prayers go out to your friend and both of your families.

[Alpinist]

Marty,

Thoughts and prayers for your friend and his family at this difficult time.

Ken

[Jozua]

Marty !

As a disclaimer I need to say my response is somewhat tempered by being not emotionally linked to your friend or being in a position to see his suffering. But I do sense your emotional despair.

Faith is difficult to buy into as so many subjective variants exist. What could be more useful is direct experience of the unseen and the ability to see what is going on behind the external appearance of each life form. My own experience suggest's, nothing happen's at random.

Try to raise your sensitivity and awareness and see what comes through to you.

Take care

Jozua

Today my faith in a higher power has been destroyed. A friend, business partner, father of three children, husband, community leader has been diagnosed with ALS. How can the scorn of this planet be allowed to continue when a person like my friend is given three to five years to compact a lifetime with his children and wife? I hurt to the core of my soul and can only pray a miracle can restore my faith in the good of our being. Members of faith please think and pray for my friend this time of year when it should be filled with joy and happiness for most.

[Big B]

Marty !

As a disclaimer I need to say my response is somewhat tempered by being not emotionally linked to your friend or being in a position to see his suffering. But I do sense your emotional despair.

Faith is difficult to buy into as so many subjective variants exist. What could be more useful is direct experience of the unseen and the ability to see what is going on behind the external appearance of each life form. My own experience suggest's, nothing happen's at random.

Try to raise your sensitivity and awareness and see what comes through to you.

Take care

Jozua

I'm sad you have to go through this. My heart goes out you and all those affected.
I do believe Jozua is correct in his thinking.

[Mr Peabody]

I am sorry for your pain and grief.

Faith is believing in that which is not seen. God is love. He allows us free will, to have choice whether to love him back. Unfortunately, there is a lot of bad and evil in the world. This would get very long if I tried to explain why bad things happen. I can post a bit more if anyone wishes.

I didn't post this, not sure why, maybe it would be too difficult at the time or I just didn't want to put my grief on others. Maybe I shouldn't now, my intention is not to take away from your situation but maybe show we all have to face terrible things at times and God can helpus through.

Just recently 10/6/2018 my son was shot dead on the street just a couple houses from his own house, 10:00 am. He was 36 which is older than many who die tradgically but still too young to me. My wife, me, and my family have some difficult times dealing with this. The blame is not God's, it is the evil in the heart of the one who pulled the trigger and all that contributed to it.

God once had a paradise on earth but it was man's choice to allow evil in, the consequences will continue until the end. There would be no type of relationship with God if He forced us or controlled our every thought and move. I certainly don't want to incenuate we are on our own, I believe in the power of prayer and God is in control. It's difficult for us to see and understand, especially during times like you are facing.

Did you hear about the little girl in Texas who had a brain tumor that had no cure? And, how now the tumor has disappeared, can't be seen on MRI. This is a recent story so if you haven't seen it a quick search should turn it up. I will attempt to find a link and come back.

Today my faith in a higher power has been destroyed. A friend, business partner, father of three children, husband, community leader has been diagnosed with ALS. How can the scorn of this planet be allowed to continue when a person like my friend is given three to five years to compact a lifetime with his children and wife? I hurt to the core of my soul and can only pray a miracle can restore my faith in the good of our being. Members of faith please think and pray for my friend this time of year when it should be filled with joy and happiness for most.

[Mr Peabody]

Just the first link I found about the little girl
https://www.ksat.com/news/texas-girl...nt-explain-why

[Joe P]

https://www.nationalreview.com/2018/...ng-meditation/

[Mordante]

I’m not really religious. But if there is a God I doubt very much that God has the power or the will to intervene in the world.

God flipped the on on switch to the universe and is now looking how things will progress. Unable or unwilling, maybe both to stop the process.

[RDSChicago]

Sorry for your friend, and his family and friends. Life is not a dress rehearsal. Live it to its fullest each and every day. Carpe diem.

[Al M.]

I’m not really religious. But if there is a God I doubt very much that God has the power or the will to intervene in the world.

God flipped the on on switch to the universe and is now looking how things will progress. Unable or unwilling, maybe both to stop the process.

In the link that Jap (Joe) posted above on this page, the author suggests that God is not a super-being among many beings, but Being itself, the very reason why something exists rather than nothing. This is the concept of classical theism, and is summarized under this link (or even better, read the book "Aquinas" by that author):

http://edwardfeser.blogspot.com/2012...undup.html?m=1

Under the logic of this concept, which should become clear upon reading, God inevitably must be all powerful and unlimited (infinite). The idea of a God limited in power does not make much sense philosophically. If God were conceived just as a super-being among many beings (a limited, not all powerful God), then ditching the God concept altogether and embracing atheism would make more sense. But atheism has its own logical problems that cause me to reject it.

[Mr Peabody]

Issue 36: September 09, 2018
Articles by T. Sean Sullivan

Understanding Bad Days


Introduction:
Difficult moments in life are almost inevitable. The old saying is, “Into every life a little rain must fall”. There are times in which it seems like every bad thing has us “in their crosshairs”. The biggest issue with life’s difficulties is when they “try our faith”. There are times when problems seem to compound against us and we might begin to say things like, “What have I done to deserve this?” We may even turn to God with questions as to “Why?”
We know, even for “good people”, that difficulties are part of life and so we must be able to find a valid answer to our quest—2 Peter 1:3 tells us “…His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue…” Let’s eliminate some false ideas, establish the right perspective, and also understand what we are to gain from going through some “bad days”.

Some False Concepts:
We do not suffer as punishment for sin. It is remarkable how many people think that bad things: Illnesses, or injuries, are punishment for wrong-doing. Even if it is not our main focus, when faced with difficulty many must admit a twinge of conscience that provokes us into thinking, “Maybe this is what I deserve”. This has been a common thought for a long time: In the days of Job, his friends assumed this “punishment for sin” scenario concerning his troubles. They witnessed what he was going through and assumed it was because of sin in his life: Eliphaz (Job 4:8, 9), Bildad (Job 8:6), and Zophar (Job 11:5, 6). Consider what God had to say concerning Job (Job 1:22; 2:10)—“in all this Job did not sin”. God declares that Job’s friends had not spoken correctly, saying, “My wrath is aroused against you and your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has” (Job 42:7). We need to avoid such conclusions.
Sinful choices can result in illness or injury but these things are “temporal consequences” and not the punishment for the sin. The punishment for sin is separation from God (Isaiah 59:1-2; Romans 6:23).
We do not suffer because God lacks the power to help. For someone to come to this conclusion they must not know God at all. God is not limited by any mortal illness: God was able to extend Hezekiah’s life (Isaiah 38:1-5). Jesus Christ worked great wonders and healings: In Mark 1:38-42 Jesus healed a leper. In Mark 5:25-34 Jesus healed a long-term illness. In John 11:39-45 Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. God created us (Acts 17:26) and His power is limitless within His will.
We do not suffer because God doesn’t care. Again, to come to this conclusion we must not know God at all. We are commanded to cast every care on God because in fact He does care for us (1 Peter 5:7). God, and our Lord Jesus, are moved with compassion over the situations we face in this life (Matthew 9:36, 14:14; 15:32; 20:34; John 11:35). God cares, but He has given us the freedom of choice, and with that freedom consequences arise. It would be immoral for God disallow negative consequences; they are part of having the ability to choose. We must understand that all choices have consequences; this is the value and risk of our choice making freedom.

Truth about Bad Days
We must understand that suffering is essentially a result of our “free will”. Humans are not creatures of instinct, or preprogrammed allegiance, we are able to reason for ourselves, and it is this freedom that is the value of the human experience
“Free will” also brings out the best in us. Free will enables us to be sincere in our emotional expressions: we can be truly compassionate, caring, and loving; and not because we “have to” but rather because we “freely choose to” (Luke 10:27). Because of free will we can express true feelings: Like “husband and wife” (Ephesians 5:25), or “parent and child” (Ephesians 6:1-4), and, certainly, servant and Creator God (Mark 12:30). However, ability to choose can result in negative consequences. We may choose carelessly: Accidents caused by self and others. We may choose ignorantly: Taking a prescription, eat a food, not knowing that you were allergic to it We may choose irrationally: acting without thinking through to the results. We may choose maliciously: seeking to harm others. We all must remember this fixed-rule: If I am allowed to choose, so is everyone else. Because everyone is free to choose for themselves, others may choose poorly and may affect you or me.
This natural world can cause suffering: Our habitat, this place called Earth is designed to be well-suited for us (Psalm 19:1-6; Ecclesiastes 1:5-7; Acts 17:24-26). Sometimes, however, we get in the way of nature. Such things as tidal waves, floods, tornadoes, and hurricanes cause a lot of damage. These things perhaps remind us that this world is not the permanent home of our soul (Hebrews 11:13-16). There is a better land prepared (John 14:1-6); a place in the presence of God (Revelation 21:22-27).
Our mortality causes suffering: Our bodies are not designed to function forever. It is God's design that mortal life is temporary (Gen. 3:19; Ps. 139:14; Heb. 9:27). Wise Solomon said, “There is a time to be born and a time to die” (Ecclesiastes 3:20). If we are blessed with a “long life” we will face the transition of aging (Eccl. 12:1-6). When our bodies are no longer fit to house us, our spirit will depart (Ecclesiastes 12:7). Peter spoke of death as leaving his tent behind (2 Peter 1:12-15). We are just not meant to live forever—our bodies are temporary (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

There is “A Silver Lining”
The difficulties of this life should cause us to hope for something better, because there is a much better place (Revelation 21:1-4). If we are honest with the revealed truth of God, we are not supposed to be satisfied with this world—we are to long for that better place (Hebrews 11:13-16).
While we remain in this life, trials and tribulations can “build us” or “break us”—we must choose to be built by them: We will know “hope”, if we endure (Romans 5:1-3). Our faith will be proven, if we endure (1 Peter 1:6-9). Through difficulties we learn to rely on God, just as Paul expresses in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, “…and lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake For when I am weak, then I am strong.” Through tribulations we learn to rely on the strength of God.

[Jozua]

The reality is that we can make various intellectual logical high jumps in trying to add meaning to the situation but it becomes meaningless as it does not address the emotional pain of the OP.

In times like this conventional belief systems tend to fail the individual.

At best, one can collectively pray or send good wishes for the directly affected people and hope for an unexplained recovery in conjunction with medical support services.

Having the name of the patient will make it so much easier to focus the "goodwill".

I’m not really religious. But if there is a God I doubt very much that God has the power or the will to intervene in the world.

God flipped the on on switch to the universe and is now looking how things will progress. Unable or unwilling, maybe both to stop the process.

[nc42acc]

Thank you all for the kind words. I can selfishly grieve my friends condition but it doesn't change him facing mortality.

[Mordante]

In the link that Jap (Joe) posted above on this page, the author suggests that God is not a super-being among many beings, but Being itself, the very reason why something exists rather than nothing. This is the concept of classical theism, and is summarized under this link (or even better, read the book "Aquinas" by that author):

http://edwardfeser.blogspot.com/2012...undup.html?m=1

Under the logic of this concept, which should become clear upon reading, God inevitably must be all powerful and unlimited (infinite). The idea of a God limited in power does not make much sense philosophically. If God were conceived just as a super-being among many beings (a limited, not all powerful God), then ditching the God concept altogether and embracing atheism would make more sense. But atheism has its own logical problems that cause me to reject it.

I do not agree with this. But maybe I’ll read the book. The presumption of 5he bible is that good is perfect. He created the perfect universe. If he could or can intervene that means that God is flawed. He gave humankind free will making humans the only ones responsible for their deeds. No one can blame any deity for our actions. This leads to the result that the crucifixion of a Jesus was nothing but pointless murder.

[wisnon]

My heart goes out to you. I am also facing similar sadness as we will be having a family meeting later this week to put my mother into Assisted Living and out of her independent apartment. Her memory has failed and she needs help. I will have her with me all day on Christmas and have to make it a good time and act as if everything is the same.

i am there with you with my mother in law. Indeed, that is why she no longer lives close to you.

[wisnon]

Thank you all for the kind words. I can selfishly grieve my friends condition but it doesn't change him facing mortality.

its an extremely tough thing to go thru. I hope your pal takes the time to enjoy the time and people he loves as much as possible and make peace with this life and his place within it. If he comes to term with is own reality as a spiritual being, it may allow him more time...but this always was a limited time game for all of us.

I feel your sadness and know that its even worse for your pal and his loved ones. I wish there was something I could do to fix it, but unfortunately I cannot. keep strong and try to be there for your friend, and dont give up hope.

[joeinid]

https://www.amazon.com/43-Movement-Keri-Baskin/dp/1539494926

[Ritmo]

Marty - Sorry about your friend. It is faith and patience that will be needed to help your friend and family get through ALS. The good news is that he has friends like you that will help him go through this next chapter of his life’s journey. Prayers will help as well.

[Nikhil]

Marty,

I hope this poem gives you solace as it has done for me ...


Sometimes the Almighty picks the flower that is still in full bloom;
Sometimes the rosebud’s chosen that we feel He’s picked too soon.

Sometimes the flower is fading with petals floating down,
but the Almighty knows the perfect time to gather flowers from the ground.

There is a heavenly garden in which the Almighty takes great pleasure
because He’s placed within it the loved ones that we treasure.

He walks among the blossoms giving them eternal rest,
and I know that it must please Him because He chose our very best.

[gadawg]

Marty ... so sorry for your friend and his family. We will definitely keep them in our prayers. God is there and loves us even when its difficult to see or understand.

Take Care

George